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Housewarming parties are kind of like Christmas, in that no one’s ever really sure what they should give.

Unless you really know somebody’s taste, resist the urge to buy them home décor. The last thing a new homeowner wants is to receive a gift they don’t like but feel obligated to display.

This may sound crazy, but the main goal when it comes to housewarming gifts is to pick something with as little personality (or shelf life) as possible. If you want to give someone a bold, bright gift, make it a bouquet of flowers, so that it’s gone before the person has a chance to get tired of looking at it!

Alternatively, a good strategy is to pick a gift whose major benefit is to serve a purpose, rather than provide decoration. Be careful if you choose to go this route, though; just because you buy someone a coffee maker doesn’t mean they’re going to give up their daily trips to Starbucks!

Here are 13 awesome housewarming gifts that people actually want to receive:

1. House plants

If you had told a younger me that in the future I’d be recommending giving somebody a house plant as a gift, I’d have probably asked you, “Who died and made me Martha Stewart?”

But here’s the thing…house plants are really amazing— not just for brightening up your home, but even for keeping the air clean and fresh and, as rumor has it, they can even have a positive impact on your overall health (thanks to all that clean air you’re breathing in).

If you’re having doubts, just trust me on this one. Your housewarming friend will thank you.

2. The ultimate failsafe: a gift card

Before you roll your eyes, there’s a method to my madness. See, with a new home often comes a new color palette and a desire to start all over again with the decorations. THAT IS NOT AN INVITATION FOR YOU TO PICK OUT SOMEONE ELSE’S DRAPES!

3. A 1-year Costco membership

That’s right, you can gift somebody a Costco membership! If you’ve got a friend who’s recently moved out of a cramped little apartment and into a larger space, this could really be the perfect gift. The prices for coffee and paper towels at the supermarket alone are reason enough to join Costco, plus let’s not forget those amazing free samples!

In all seriousness though, anybody who has the storage space to buy in bulk will definitely appreciate this gift.

4. Some cleaning supplies

Some might argue that cleaning products can be an intimate purchase decision, but I think most of us can agree that we wouldn’t turn down a free bottle of Lysol. If you choose to go the cleaning product route, you can even get cutesy with it by filling a mop bucket with some rubber gloves, cleaning solutions, and maybe some sponges or Scrub Daddys. Just make sure the bleach products stay away from the ammonia, and this is actually a really amazing gift!

5. Picture frames or photo albums

While I wouldn’t recommend gifting wall art, a picture frame or photo album is a pretty safe choice when it comes to avoiding unwanted gifts. Go for something simple so the frame won’t overshadow the photo, and avoid those photo collage frames, as they’re harder to find wall space for.

6. A cook book

Sure, you can find just about any recipe you want on the Internet, but a cook book is always great to have around (and don’t we print out those Internet recipes, anyway?). Bonus points if you can find a cook book with a recipe your friend has already tried and enjoyed.

7. A small kitchen appliance

I might be a little kitchen appliance obsessed, but there are just so many great options for making different kinds of food without needing to use your stove!

I’m a firm believer that the Instant Pot makes slow cookers obsolete, but not everybody is as comfortable using an electric pressure cooker as I am (I’ll admit, sometimes I still run out of the kitchen for fear that it’s going to explode).

If, however, choosing between an Instant Pot and a slow cooker is too tricky for the person in question, an air fryer is another great option—who doesn’t love guilt-free French fries?

8. A water pitcher with replacement filters

We’re living in modern times, which means our water needs to be filtered! But those filters can get expensive fast, and they don’t last very long for families. There’s nothing wrong with giving somebody a practical gift!

9. Scented candle

This one may seem a bit impersonal, but it’s actually quite the contrary. With a new home comes new smells, which could be good or bad. Either way, the scent of a house is one of its most defining features. We all want our homes to smell lovely, and what better way to achieve a fragrant house than lighting a candle? I rest my case.

10. Carbon monoxide detector

Depending on what state you’re in, these may even be legally required, in which case, skip to number 11.

Maybe throw in a small house plant or candle so it’s not a completely unexciting gift, though.

11. Pan organizers

I’m pretty sure 95% of the population (of which I am a part) doesn’t own pan organizers, but they seem like a really great way to avoid the frustration that comes from digging through your cookware when all you want is an easy dinner.

12. Power failure lights

I’ve mentioned these briefly before, but only because I’m truly a fan. If you’ve never heard of power failure lights, they’re basically removable night lights that you keep plugged in, and any time there’s a power outage, they’ll light up like a flashlight, even when you unplug them. There are plenty of different brands that make power failure lights, but so far we’ve been happy with our Sunbeam ones.

13. A bottle of something nice

As always, if all else fails, just buy some booze (unless, of course, you’re shopping for somebody who’s sober). I think this one pretty much speaks for itself.

About Me

I previously worked for Google’s largest partner, and now I want to work with you to your site traffic and generate more leads. I’m a full-time freelance copywriter and blogger for hire. Email me today at noelle @ noellehartt . com {please remove the spaces} to get started!